Last year I held a simple sugar free challenge. My readers were invited to embark on going sugar free for a week. Some people went off of refined sugars and tried to only use unrefined sweeteners. Others completely avoided sweeteners, and others even went beyond that to an anti-yeast diet. Well over a hundred people participated and many had surprising results, everything from weight loss, to reduced sugar cravings, and other health benefits. This was surprising to me as I generally expect it to take longer for people to really benefit from making a diet change, but sometimes it only takes a week to experience real benefit. For example, read a few of the comments left last time.
Lisa Z
I’m glad you shared my comment! I did have an amazing week on the sugar-free, white flour-free challenge and I’m going to continue it as much as possible (100% at home, it’s going out that’s hard).
I have what I consider undiagnosed fibromyalgia (nerve and muscle pain head to toe, almost constantly.) As of today and starting about 12 hours into this challenge, I am still pain-free, and I can only attribute it to taking the sugar and refined flour out of my diet. I had a glass of wine on Saturday night, and while that didn’t feel great after over a week of no alcohol (I’m a lightweight), it didn’t cause any headache or pain. Taking out refined white foods has been the key, I guess, and I’m totally surprised. I’ve never, never given up sugar completely before. I have gone gluten-free for weeks at a time, and had some success with that, but it seems the sugar is the main culprit in my pain, and I have noticed even before this that white flour gives me digestive distress (bloating, mainly).
Thank you for doing this challenge. It has changed my life! I now find myself not even wanting sugar-y foods. I do like sweet tastes, though, so this past week I had plenty of honey in my tea and even made a zucchini cake and cream cheese frosting with just a little honey for Sunday dessert. It was great!
I’m wondering how much the genetic modification of sugar and wheat has been causing my problems, but I’m going to cut out all sugar and white flour for now, organic or not.
Cindi
This was a great challenge! My two teenage daughters remained steadfast even though there were many temptations (our chiropractor was even serving up organic naturally sweetened desserts that they turned down)! I think being committed to this “official” challenge made it easier for them to be strong. We’ve had so many great discussions about sugar this week, and I am grateful for what they are learning. We read together all your posts Kimi, and appreciated them very much. My girls definitley seem more willing and self-motivated to adopt some of these new habits, which makes me very happy!!
Melodie
Ours went very well. My goal was to reduce sugar cravings by eliminating sugar, mostly in the form of baked goods and ice cream. I succeeded and have likely saved about $40 this week in treats for myself and my girls. Their behaviours this week have been amazing too. I expected little terrorists but instead they were very agreeable to the challenge, followed the rules and the screaming and arguing was much less this week than usual. We all had a pice of blackberry pie and ice cream as a treat to celebrate the end of the week (and Thanksgiving) but we all had much smaller slices and scoops than usual. Cravings have virtually disappeared.
Regardless of whether you lose weight or see a health benefit, it’s just a good practice. I don’t think we realize how “sweet” our diets are until we try to take sugar or sweeteners out for a week. I wrote last year,
“The reason we like sugar is obvious. It’s sweet. And ever since we were newborn babies we have been attracted to sweets, like our mother’s milk. But in the end, not only is {white} sugar empty calories, making us gain weight while remaining undernourished, do we really want to be controlled by anything, even something as pleasant as cakes and cookies? I know so many people who can’t refuse sweets or who can’t go without them for any period of time. Sweets control them to a certain extent.
I have personally found dealing with my sugar cravings to mean greater freedom for myself. For example, I always knew I shouldn’t overdo sweets, but it was hard to resist it (especially since cakes and cookies seem to flaunt you at every turn). But once I went on an anti-yeast diet and dealt with some antibiotic related issues, I’ve found it so freeing as I can generally easily refuse sweets (not always, mind you, but usually).
Let me tell you, it feels good to be free!”
Well, after having lots of yummy Christmas Candy, I am finding it harder and harder to resist sweets and know it’s time to buckle down again! Want to join me? Starting next Monday you can join in a week long discussion and sugar free challenge. I hope that this will enable many of you to jump start a healthier diet, or help others (like myself) get back on track.
Here are the Three Levels you can commit too.
Beginner level: Take out all refined sugars including corn syrup and white sugar. You will need to read labels carefully when buying prepackaged foods. Instead use natural, more unrefined sugars such as rapadura, coconut sugar, raw honey, and whole stevia extract ( I think that stevia is okay on all three levels).
Moderate Level: Remove all natural sweeteners as well, using fruit as your “sweet”. Consider removing other starchy foods that can also feed yeast, or make you crave sugar.
Advanced Level: Take out all sugar forming foods, and go on an anti-yeast diet (such as the GAPS diet or the Body Ecology Diet). Please, beware, if you have a yeast issue, taking out the foods that feed it may make you detox and have a die-off effect (which can make you feel sick and miserable). If you have any illness or health issue, you should consult your health provider before trying a anti-yeast diet.
If you would like to join in, please leave a comment below and I will enter you under participants.
Participants:
1)Kimi Harris: Moderate
2)Elena Harris: Moderate
3)Summer Harms: Moderate
4)Celina: Advanced
5)Katie: Moderate
6)Jenn: Moderate
7)Brittany: Advanced
8)Hollie: Beginner
9)Karen: Beginner
10)kmillecam: Advanced
11) Gina: Moderate
12)Rebecca : Moderate
13)ZoeDown: Beginner
14) Melissa W.: Advanced
15)Sarah Mulholland:Beginner
16)Katie: Beginner
17)Nicky B: Moderate
18)Lara:Moderate
19)Ruth: Moderate
20) Katie @ Modern Alternative Mama: Beginner
21)LeaG: Beginner
22) Jenn: Moderate
23)Beppy : Moderate
24)Revel: Moderate
25)Melissa @ Dyno-Mom:Moderate
26) Kristin: Moderate
27) Tash and Husband: Moderate
28)Laura: Moderate
29)Lynn: Moderate
30)Amanda R: Beginner
31)Nicole: Moderate
32) Amanda: Moderate
33)Megan: Moderate
34)Briita: Moderate
35) Kristin S : Beginner
36)Karen: Moderate
37) Kelsey : Moderate
38)Annette: Moderate
39)Amanda K: Moderate
40)Speedmom: Beginner
41)Theresa: moderate
42)Ann: Moderate
43)Dani: Beginner
44)Shayla Taylor: Moderate
45) Ashley Armistead: Moderate
46)Kerry: Moderate
47) Ellen:Moderate
48)Theresa: Moderate
49) Jani: Moderate
50) Sarah: Beginner
51) Kari: Moderate
52)LeighAnn: Moderate
53) GG: Moderate
54) Jen: Beginner
55)Noor Z: Beginner
56)Jani: Beginner
57) Sarah: Beginner
58)Pam H: Beginner
59) Jen @ Real Food Healthy Living: Advanced
60) Ruthann: Beginner
61) Jenny W: Moderate
62)Alison: Beginner
63) Madeleine: Advanced
64) Steph Garvey: Beginner
65) Jenny Garret: Moderate
66)Amelia: Moderate
67)Megan: Moderate
68)Ruth: Moderate
69)Thomas: Moderate
70)Amparo: Beginner
71)Nicole: Beginner
72) Kirstie: Moderate
73)Anna: Moderate
74)Tana: Moderate
75)Shannon Carter: Beginner
76) Adiela Carter: Beginner
77) Michelle and Family:: Moderate
78)Janet Spangler: Advanced
79) Greta and Husband: Moderate
80) Maggie: Moderate
81)Olivia: Moderate
82) Christina B: Moderate
83)Hope: Moderate
84) Rachel: Advanced
85)Anna: Moderate
86)Brandy: Moderate
87)Leah M: Moderate
88) Juli and Husband: Moderate
89)Lori A: Moderate
90)Kim: Moderate
91) Roni: Moderate
92) Living Less Mom: Beginner
93)Angelita Lotinsky: Moderate
94)Micaela: Moderate
95) Jo: Advanced
96)Shannon and Husband: Moderate
97) Josh: Moderate
98) Gail: Beginner
99) Jenn: Beginner
100) Dink Kreis: Moderate
101) Jennifer Bickerton: Moderate
102) Nicole W: Moderate
103) Christy: Beginner
104) Kellie and Family: Moderate
105) Handcuffed Heart: Moderate
106) Bronwyn Malloy and Husband: Beginning
107) Serena Jensen: Moderate
108) Shalana: Moderate
109) Katie G: Moderate
110) Kris: Moderate
111) EileenH: Moderate
112)Victoria.S: Moderate
113) Colleen
114)Jamie: Advanced
115) Pat C: Beginner
116)Ashley: Beginner
117) Shelly W: Moderate
118) Sarah Wheller: Moderate
119)Vikki: Moderate
120)Cindy G: Moderate
121) Heather: Beginner
122)Trish: Moderate
123) Jennie: Moderate
124)Gwyn: Beginner
125) Lynn: Beginner
126)Kendra: Beginner
127: Stacy: Moderate
128)Chris: Moderate
129) Terry Puc: Moderate
130: Debora Diana: Moderate
131)Mariana: Moderate
132)Becca Harris: Beginner
133) Esther: Advanced
134) Benay: Moderate
135)Cath: Moderate
136)Mary :Beginner
137)Liz: Moderate
138) Kristen in MO: Moderate
139) Whitney: Moderate
140) Stephanie B Cornais: Moderate
141)Tara: Beginner
142) Katie O.: Moderate
143)Megan: Moderate
144) Tiffany: Moderate
145) Peter: Beginner
146)Sasha: Moderate
147)Marilee:Beginner
148) Amy: Moderate
149)Karen: Moderate
150)Penny
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A month of chocolate and baking for my family, and all I can think about is sugar! No better way to get back to the nourishing lifestyle – thanks for the challenge, Kimi! I’ll join you as moderate.
Put me down for moderate!
I have been at the “beginner” level since August (no looking back! Never will I eat processed sugar/foods… blergh) but this is just to detox/loose weight/curb the FREQUENCY I eat sweets. I have also given up grains/yeast… but I still eat fruits and starchy veggies. I am a hybrid :p
Count me in for the moderate level. What a great idea! I love the encouragement of knowing others are working to get in control of those sugar cravings. I’m adjusting my dates to January 15-20…a little shorter than I’d like, but I have a child’s birthday on one end and a trip on the other. Does anyone have good breakfast replacement ideas for granola/yogurt and lightly sweetened oatmeal? What kinds of breads do you all eat that are sweetener-free? My normal bread recipe uses honey, and we eat a lot of bread.
I’ll join as a beginner please!
I’d like to try Beginner! I’ve got a major sweet tooth so this should be interesting. 🙂
Put me down for beginner please! I think this will be the kick in the pants to push us that final step toward getting off prepackaged foods. We’ve mostly made the change-over, except for a few final holdouts. Um, ice cream with marshmallows anyone???
I started the Maker’s Diet Phase 1 (no grains, no fruit, no sugar) on January 3rd so I’ve been without sugar for 8 days now. I would like to join the challenge at the moderate level because I do look forward to an occasional fruit indulgence when I move into Phase 2 of the Maker’s Diet. Thanks Kimi!
I’d like to join as a moderate. 🙂 I recently tried an all sweeteners and grain-free diet (briefly–for two weeks) and just didn’t respond well (fatigue and lightheadedness..I’m guessing low blood sugar that just wouldn’t come up).
I’m curious, though–what are some foods that feed yeast? (Things like potatoes? Beans? Peas & corn?) Thanks! 🙂
I have started a sugar free diet today so I would like to join this challenge to help motivate me. The moderate level is where I am planning on starting but I am also trying hard to reduce bread/yeast although I will need an occasional slice of whole wheat bread. I plan on doing this through the end of the month. Usually I am a salt craver but over the holidays the chocolate and cookies were added to my cravings. I feel crappy and have gained weight that took me forever to lose. I have low energy and feel depressed. I want to feel better- hopefully this will help!
I would love to join your challenge at the beginner level. As a mom to a 1 year old, I’ve come to regard sweets as my well-earned reward any time she is napping, something quick that I can treat myself with between cleaning, laundry, meal prep, etc. My daughter hasn’t even experienced refined sugar in her short life, and here I am gobbling it up any time her back is turned! I’m ready to change, and glad to have a challenge to strive toward. The real trick will be getting my husband on board… he will miss my cookies and other treats!
I’ll try it! I’m going to go for beginner though as I’ve never tried to “eliminate” anything from my diet (except processed foods of course).
Count me in for ADVANCED! I’ve done moderate several times this past year but I want to challenge myself to do advanced. It’s only one week! Why not challenge myself! I’m excited! =0)
Hi Kimi,
I’m Theresa #41. I signed up as moderate, but it says beginner by my name. 🙂
I think it’s changed now. 🙂 Sorry about that!
I’ll sign up as a beginner! I’m pregnant and really trying to not be ruled by my sweet tooth and give into all of my sugary cravings 🙂 I am certainly looking forward to the challenge!
Just after Thanksgiving of 2010, I gave up refined sugar. Three years later, I’m still sugar-free and loving how I feel. Just fruit for me… and organic milk, organic plain yogurt (sweetened with a little organic vanilla extract)… whole grains… it’s amazing what a difference it made after only a week or two. Be ready for obscene withdrawals in the beginning! =) Good luck to you ALL, and CHEERS!!
Please add me. Without knowing about this post, I decided this past Sunday to cut out fruit juice, the sole remaining sugar in my diet. I don’t plan to ever eliminate sugar-forming foods, so I would probably fit into the moderate category.
PS. This could be unrelated, but since I’ve had no fruit juice (and therefore no sugar) for three days now, I’ve lost all remaining belly fat. I admit that I had almost none to begin with, but today I noticed that my pants don’t quite fit anymore. Hmmm…it will be interesting to see if it’s just coincidence.
Put me down for Beginner….I’m excited to try this & see if it does indeed help with reducing my cravings!
As a side note, I just found your site today & I’m really enjoying it! 🙂
I’m in! I’ve recently gone back on the SCD. Does that count as advanced, or should I remove honey and fruits for the week to stay in the no-sugars spirit?
I would consider any special diet, like GAPS, BED, or SCD advanced. 🙂
Oh man, I’m so nervous. HAHA. I’m going to be a participant in the beginner category. 🙂
You can do it Steph! 🙂
I have been doing this in general for a year now, but you are helping me to step it up and commit in public! Put me down for moderate please.
I would love to do this challenge! I KNOW I have a dependency on sweets. Although I use honey as much as possible (even in baking), I still have a terrible sweet tooth and almost can’t go to bed feeling satisfied unless I have atleast a LITTLE bit of sweet.
Sign me up for Moderate!
Soooooooo pumped 🙂
Moderate last year, moderate again!
I’ll do the moderate level.
My crazy(;-)) sister took your class and got me started on healthy food, and I’d like to join too. 🙂 Moderate level, please.
🙂 Love it!
My crazy (;)) sister took your class and got me started on healthy food, and I’d like to join too. 🙂 Moderate level, please.
Sign me up: beginner
Sign me up too!! -beginner
I’ll do moderate – Shall be a challenge as with all the floods here in QLD, Australia at present, fruit is expensive, so not largely on the menu!
Sign me up as a moderate. I’m excited about this. What a great way to jump start the year.
Moderate level for me!
Shannon and Adiela Carter would like to join as beginners, please. Thank you!
My family and I (my husband, 3-year-old son and almost-one-year-old daughter) are joining on the Moderate level.
Hi Kimi, The day after Christmas I was so sick. I hurt from head to toe. I have hep.C and if I over do it on sugar or carbs I get very sick. So I said “THIS IS IT” I am going on the “Makers Diet” phase I. I have now been on it since the 26th of Dec., 2010. I am feeling so much better. There are days that I am very tempted to eat something I shouldn’t but with the Lord’s help I have made it. It will be fun to do it with others. So put me down for moderate or advanced (?) which ever you feel I am. Thanks for doing this!
Janet
My hubby and I have been talking about doing this; so let’s go for it!
Moderate for us, please
I’ll commit to the moderate level. It’ll be great to have the group encouragement and accountability!
I want to join! Moderate level please. Just fruit for sweets sounds great. I definitely need some sugar detox after the holidays.
Hi All! I am on day 5 of the Standard Process Purification Program, which is a 21 day program. For 8 days, besides drinking the SP shakes, one only consumes vegetables and fruit. No grains at all. No sweeteners of any kind. It’s been a great journey. On day 9 I will put chicken, fish and wild rice back into the diet. I am hoping that by then end of the program that I won’t want grains or chocolate as often as I did before. The herb gymnema is great for reducing craving for carbs and has been helpful to me in the last few days. Good-luck to everyone on this sugar-free challenge! It will do us all a lot of good!!!
I NEED to do this. I’ve switched out all refined sugars in my baking but I am sure that I bring some in from outside the home. I really notice that if I have sugar in the morning (via cereal, pancakes, oatmeal), I will crave it for the rest of the day. I don’t know why I associate breakfast with sweet foods, but I need to change my way of thinking. I’d love some different ideas on breakfasts without sugar. I’ll be joining you on the moderate level.
I will try for the medium level. I wish I could find a list of foods that feed yeast–I can cut out white pasta and potatoes, but I’m not sure what else I might be overlooking.
Having a set week to begin is very helpful. Thank you!
Search for diets to heal candida overgrowth and you should easily find lists. Unless the guidelines for candida have changed, the gold standard is to avoid all carbohydrates. That’s more intense than this challenge by far!
Hey Hope,
What is considered “sugar feeding” foods really depends on who you ask. The Body Ecology diet allows only gluten free, high protein grains, such as millet, buckwheat, and quinoa. Other diets, are grain free, others have limited grains. Some allow potatoes, some don’t.
Thanks for holding the space for this challenge, Kimi. I’ll be going for the advanced level. I’m trying to keep my yeast in check and I think this will be a great way to rejuvenate my motivation.
I’ll go as moderate please!
I would like to join at the moderate level, and my family will be doing it with me!
Moderate!!
Okay both my husband and I are in as moderate.
We’re going to go with the moderate. I’d like to do advanced but I’m not sure I can convince the rest of the family to do it, even for a week – again. We did it for a month earlier this year and we like at least some natural sweetness and our sprouted grains occasionally.
Moderate
I will be starting this Friday (tomorrow!) so that by Monday (when I go back to work) the worst of the headaches and yucky feelings will be over. Pulling out all refined sugars, leaving in honey, agave, maple. No noodles/breads limited fruit.
Thanks – I *need* this!
great idea!
I’d like to join as a moderate, please. I’m very excited to be doing this.
I am in at the beginner level! I am excited to do this for me and my 4 kiddos…….even the beginner level will be challenging for me as I have to read labels on everything we buy!